Landmark ruling for Canadian journalists

Canadian journalists are delighted with what they regard as a landmark ruling in favour of press freedom. The Ontario court of appeal has made a decision that will allow the news media to publish contentious allegations that benefit the public interest.

It recognises that there can be cases in which an individual's reputation cannot trump the public's right to know provided, of course, that the journalism is practised responsibly.

The unanimous ruling has been hailed by the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). Its president, Arnold Amber, said: "The decision will decrease the chilling effect of potential libel suits on reporters and editors. This changes the whole ballgame. Editors and reporters will now have more freedom to go after stories of public interest that they were frightened to touch before."

The decision was based on a test case involving an Ontario police officer who had sued the Ottawa Citizen for defamation after they published an article which suggested he had acted improperly.

But the judges ruled that "where a media defendant can show that it acted in accordance with the standards of responsible journalism in publishing a story that the public was entitled to hear, it has a defence even if it got some of the facts wrong."

CJFE board member Kelly Toughill said she hopes the Ontario decision will be followed in every jurisdiction across Canada. "This is a powerful decision that should lead to better public policy journalism across the country."

The ruling brings the Canadian media in line with similar approaches followed in most major English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia. (Via Globe&Mail/CJFE)